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Critical Velocity
A decade ago, Beckett Wallace buried her husband after a tragic plane crash.
Case closed. Grief buried. Life rebuilt.
Until an unmarked envelope appears on her doorstep containing evidence that the crash wasn’t an accident.
The proof is chilling. The implications are deadly.
And someone out there will do anything to keep the truth buried.
With no one else she can trust, Beckett turns to the last man she ever wanted to see again.
Detective Shawn Sampson is gruff, guarded, and relentlessly precise—and he hasn’t forgotten the sharp-tongued lawyer who nearly destroyed his last undercover operation. He doesn’t want to help her. He doesn’t trust her. And he definitely doesn’t want to reopen a cold case that powerful people are desperate to keep closed.
But the evidence is real.
And the danger is closer than either of them realizes.
Forced into an uneasy partnership, Beckett and Shawn follow a trail of secrets that leads straight into a deadly conspiracy. As threats escalate and shadows close in, the tension between them grows impossible to ignore.
Shawn is trained to protect.
Beckett is determined to uncover the truth.
And neither of them is prepared for how quickly their investigation turns personal.
Because solving her husband’s murder may cost Shawn more than his badge.
It may cost him his heart.
Case closed. Grief buried. Life rebuilt.
Until an unmarked envelope appears on her doorstep containing evidence that the crash wasn’t an accident.
The proof is chilling. The implications are deadly.
And someone out there will do anything to keep the truth buried.
With no one else she can trust, Beckett turns to the last man she ever wanted to see again.
Detective Shawn Sampson is gruff, guarded, and relentlessly precise—and he hasn’t forgotten the sharp-tongued lawyer who nearly destroyed his last undercover operation. He doesn’t want to help her. He doesn’t trust her. And he definitely doesn’t want to reopen a cold case that powerful people are desperate to keep closed.
But the evidence is real.
And the danger is closer than either of them realizes.
Forced into an uneasy partnership, Beckett and Shawn follow a trail of secrets that leads straight into a deadly conspiracy. As threats escalate and shadows close in, the tension between them grows impossible to ignore.
Shawn is trained to protect.
Beckett is determined to uncover the truth.
And neither of them is prepared for how quickly their investigation turns personal.
Because solving her husband’s murder may cost Shawn more than his badge.
It may cost him his heart.
Published January 26, 2026
About the author
Jessica Ashley
22 books444 followersHi! I’m Jessica Ashley, a three-time award-winning author of Christian romantic suspense where protective heroes, high-stakes danger, and swoony romance collide—without the spice.
I write stories for readers who want the intensity of suspense and the depth of romance, all grounded in faith, hope, and redemption. Because even in the darkest moments, God is still at work.
When I’m not writing, I’m homeschooling my three kids, baking homemade bread, or sneaking quiet moments with my husband in our New Hampshire home.
My stories are filled with danger, devotion, and faith that holds fast—because what we read matters.
I write stories for readers who want the intensity of suspense and the depth of romance, all grounded in faith, hope, and redemption. Because even in the darkest moments, God is still at work.
When I’m not writing, I’m homeschooling my three kids, baking homemade bread, or sneaking quiet moments with my husband in our New Hampshire home.
My stories are filled with danger, devotion, and faith that holds fast—because what we read matters.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 13, 2026
I love Jessica Ashley’s books, so choosing this second-chance romantic suspense was an easy choice. It features Counselor Beckett Wallace, a Boston lawyer whose husband dies after a horrific plane crash. Ten years later, she receives a photo with one sentence suggesting that it wasn’t an accident. She hires Homicide Detective Shawn Sampson, of the Seattle PD, to help her investigate the allegations. Getting to the truth is risky, and they soon discover that there’s more to the accident than meets the eye.
I appreciated the fantastic suspense, the pacey read, and characters who chose to seek the truth regardless of the cost. It was inspiring to see characters who “prayed [their] way through” difficult experiences.
“Even when I thought I had everything planned out, God surprised me by completely upending my life.”
I especially appreciated the grappling with control. I’m a planner, too, and am often forced to derail my plans for His.
I haven’t read Romeo, book 3 in the Hunt Brothers Search & Rescue, yet, but it’s now on my list as I know Beckett and Shawn’s first meeting is highlighted in this one.
If you’ve read Snowbound Threat, this story was included in the anthology. It is now a standalone story available from the author’s website.
I appreciated the fantastic suspense, the pacey read, and characters who chose to seek the truth regardless of the cost. It was inspiring to see characters who “prayed [their] way through” difficult experiences.
“Even when I thought I had everything planned out, God surprised me by completely upending my life.”
I especially appreciated the grappling with control. I’m a planner, too, and am often forced to derail my plans for His.
I haven’t read Romeo, book 3 in the Hunt Brothers Search & Rescue, yet, but it’s now on my list as I know Beckett and Shawn’s first meeting is highlighted in this one.
If you’ve read Snowbound Threat, this story was included in the anthology. It is now a standalone story available from the author’s website.
July 2, 2026
A good suspense action romance story that's about Detective Shawn Sampson and Beckett Wallace a defense lawyer. Beckett gets an envelope that says that her husband's death wasn't an accident. Beckett asks Shawn to help her look for evidence. Shawn reluctantly agrees to look into the cold case. What occurs as they investigate was an enjoyable twisty story full of drama, action, and romance. I'd found the characters engaging, their connection relatable, and their chemistry steamy. There are religious undertones included in this storyline as their journey develops in this engaging copy I'd received and volunteer to read and review.
February 2, 2026
An amazing suspenseful read. I did not realize when I bought the book, but I had read it already in an anthology published last year. I realized after I got a couple of chapters in, but decided to re-read it, and am glad I did. I did remember some stuff, but still enjoyed it. This author is one of the most awesome newer authors, and I am glad I took a chance on her when her first book came out.
February 10, 2026
Loved this story! Jessica Ashley is one of a handful of authors who's books are an automatic buy for me. They are suspenseful, the characters are real and the mystery is not obvious. They lean into their faith in a real way. And, it is not a good idea to start reading one of her books when I have any chores to do because they aren't going to get done until the book has been completed.
April 21, 2026
Got this ebook free from the author's site...slow start for me, but then it picks up and could not wait to see the conclusion!! Clean read and swoony dialogue, really enjoyed it. Fave characters were the moms and the young techy woman who helps the detective (I forget the names after finishing), BIG SMILE to my forgetfulness! Need to read more from Ashley!
June 11, 2026
Jessica Ashley delivers again. Without giving any spoilers, Critical Velocity delivers just the right amount of action and suspense mixed into this beautiful second chance love story with God and faith at the heart of the story.
July 27, 2026
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I really enjoyed this one! I loved Beckett and their miscommunication / slight enemies to lovers trope. I also thought Shawn showed a lot of wisdom in how he spoke with her and didn’t rush her.
I guess pick part of the suspense plot 😆 but still a good one that I’d re-read!
I really enjoyed this one! I loved Beckett and their miscommunication / slight enemies to lovers trope. I also thought Shawn showed a lot of wisdom in how he spoke with her and didn’t rush her.
I guess pick part of the suspense plot 😆 but still a good one that I’d re-read!
February 10, 2026
I absolutely adore Shawn & Beckett's fiery, caring, heartbreaking, loving, sweet n swoony happily ever after!!
April 20, 2026
Oh Jessica. I love your writing style.
Beckett is an attorney, and a dang good one at that, whom we've met in several of Jessica's other books. Shawn is a detective we briefly met in the book Romeo. Critical Velocity picks up two years after Romeo. I really enjoyed this one-off, being able to learn more about Beckett who we've seen briefly several times before, as well as Shawn the tough Seattle Detective she went toe to toe with during Riley's case.
It's been a decade since Beckett's pilot husband died in a plane crash, and she's still deeply mourning the loss. When her current high-stakes case wraps up, she comes home to a manila envelope containing a picture of him and a man she's never seen before, with a mysterious note on the back.
What does Beckett do? She flies out to Seattle to track down Det Shawn Sampson to help her figure out just what happened to her husband, including who killed him and why.
The only thing in the way...the disastrous date they had two years earlier...yet neither Beckett nor Shawn has been able to get the other out of their heads since. Will they be able to get past the attraction and focus on the case?
There's only one way to find out!
Beckett is an attorney, and a dang good one at that, whom we've met in several of Jessica's other books. Shawn is a detective we briefly met in the book Romeo. Critical Velocity picks up two years after Romeo. I really enjoyed this one-off, being able to learn more about Beckett who we've seen briefly several times before, as well as Shawn the tough Seattle Detective she went toe to toe with during Riley's case.
It's been a decade since Beckett's pilot husband died in a plane crash, and she's still deeply mourning the loss. When her current high-stakes case wraps up, she comes home to a manila envelope containing a picture of him and a man she's never seen before, with a mysterious note on the back.
What does Beckett do? She flies out to Seattle to track down Det Shawn Sampson to help her figure out just what happened to her husband, including who killed him and why.
The only thing in the way...the disastrous date they had two years earlier...yet neither Beckett nor Shawn has been able to get the other out of their heads since. Will they be able to get past the attraction and focus on the case?
There's only one way to find out!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews